March 12, 2008 Bastrop, TX A chimpanzee was shot and killed after escaping from his enclosure at the University of Texas research center. Primates
March 11, 2008 Detroit, MI A 34-year-old male silverback gorilla called Sunshine died at the Detroit Zoo. Sunshine was being treated for a flu-like illness in the weeks prior to his death, and had been under treatment for heart disease for the past few years. A necropsy was scheduled to determine more about his death. Primates
March 11, 2008 Papillion, NE The Nebraska Humane Society raided the home of a suspected drug trafficker and found more than 200 animals. Charges of animal cruelty and violating local animal ordinances were pending against the suspect. ReptilesOther
February 28, 2008 Phoenix, AZ A 3-year-old boy sustained a severe bite on his wrist by a “pet” lemur. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The boy’s family refused to disclose where they obtained the lemur but admitted they were intending to start a “petting zoo.” Primates
February 27, 2008 Spokane, WA A “pet” spider monkey escaped from his possessor’s new residence and attacked and bit three people. The monkey was placed under a “dangerous animal” quarantine at Spokeanimal while an investigation was completed. See follow-up on 03/13/08. Primates
February 25, 2008 Dayton, OH Dayton Police and U.S. Marshals found two alligators in a Norvell Court house but didn’t find the 20-year-old man who was wanted on a probation violation. The alligators were turned over to an animal rescue operation. Reptiles
February 24, 2008 Tacoma, WA One of two Arctic foxes escaped from the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The fox, named Scout, was spotted by local residents about three hours after zookeepers discovered him missing. He was subsequently captured by zookeepers and returned to the zoo unharmed. Zoo officials suspected he had squeezed through the fence posts of the red wolf enclosure, where he had been left overnight because of previous escape attempts. Other
February 24, 2008 Monticello, ME A state warden took possession of a 2- to 3-year-old American alligator living in a terrarium in a local resident’s home. The possessor was issued a summons for keeping wildlife in captivity and importing/receiving wildlife without a permit. The alligator was turned over to an animal rescue facility in Winslow. Reptiles
February 21, 2008 Honolulu, HI Berani, an 8-year-old, 245-pound Sumatran tiger, escaped his exhibit into an unsecured holding area at the Honolulu Zoo, when staff failed to properly latch a gate to his enclosure. Big Cats
February 14, 2008 Bracebridge, ON A roadside zoo called Guha’s Tiger & Lion Farm lost one of its big cats, a black leopard, when he escaped from his enclosure and attacked the possessor’s dog. The leopard was shot by Ontario Provincial Police and, due to her extensive injuries, the dog was later shot as well. Big Cats